Elevator



2 SheetsTSheet .l

c. MJGIDLEY ELEVATOR FiledApiil 7, 1928 Nov. 26, 1929.

gwuwntoi Nov. 26, 1929. c, M, GIDLEY 1,737,369

- ELEVATOR Filed April '7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W gw gwmwnto'o PatentedNov. 26, 1929 waste 'COL'UIVZIB'US MONROE GEDLEY, OF CORSICANA, TEXASELEVATOR Application filed April '7,

This invention relates to elevators and more particularly to elevatorsofthe type employed in conjunction with oil well drilling apparatus forhoisting drill pipe and the like within the derrick.

In oil well drilling, it is necessary to periodically withdraw the drillpipe from the well and whenever this becomes necessary, the pipe isremoved in lengths each including a certain number of sections connectedby their couplings. The elevators employed for this purpose ordinarilycomprise hingedly connected aws which are clamped about the pipe beneathone of these couplings,.so that the section may be raised or lowered asre quired. In such ordinary structures, assuming the elevator to havebeen clamped about the pipe to elevate the same and a predeterminednumber of sections to have been withdrawn from the well in order torelease the elevator, it is necessary that an attendant be positioned ata point adjacent the top of the well to accomplish the uncouplingfunction.

After the sections have been withdrawn as hereinbefore stated, they areseated at their lower ends upon the derrick floor or upon a 7 carriedthereby and accordingly when ltlCK it is desired to pick up one of thesesections to couple it to the well string for lowering and to lower thecoupled unit with this string, it is necessary that the attendant occupythe same position and connect the elevator to the pipe atits upper endand immediately bei eath the uppermost coupling.

It will be obvious that this attendant occup' a a perilous position andthat furthermore his services are not available upon the derrick floorwhere durin such operations they are necessary. Accordingly, animportant object of the present invention is to provide an elevatorwhich, when coupled to a pipe at the upper end thereof, may be loweredto the lower end of the pipe for uncoupling without the necessity ofdisengaging it from the pipe and which, when it is to be engaged with apipe adjacent the upper end thereof, which pipe has a predeterminednumber of conplings thereon, may be engaged with this pipe at the lowerend thereof and borne upwardly over the pipe without grasping the 1928.Serial No. 268,231.

same until the last coupling is reached when gripping jaws carried bythe elevator become effective to engage the pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of thischaracter a structure which is readily manipulatable, which may bereadily assembled and which will be durable and oiiicient in service.

These and other objects I attain by the con struetion shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration 18 showna pref-erred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a planview partially in section of an elevator constructed in accordance withmy invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the connections employed for operationof the se'c 0nd jaw;

Figured is a detail sectional View showing the manner of adapting thejaws for use with drill pipeof difierent sizes. Referring now moreparticularly to the, drawings, the elevator comprises a frame formed intwo sections 10 and 11, pivotally connected at one side, as indicated at12, and provided at the opposite side with a springpressed latchingmechanism 13 whereby the sections may be held in assembled relationabout a pipe. Each section has means for connecting a bail thereto, asindicated at 13*, and is provided adjacent the free end thereof with ahand hold 14- whereby the sections may be swung about their pivot. Eachsec tion is further provided adjacent its lower end with a shelf orledge 15 provided with a groove having a curved bottom, as indicated at16, receiving a curved rib 17 upon the lower end of a jaw 18, so thatthese jaws are pivotally mounted at their lower ends to permit the upperends thereof to be swung inwardly to engage a pipe P.

The section 10 has formed therein a recess 19 opening through the topand inner face thereof and at the sides of this recess has extendingupwardly therefrom ribs 20 produced upon the upper face of the section.

The outer wall of the recess has a threaded face of the associated jaw18 adjacent the upper end thereof, as indicated at 26, with the resultthat the spring 24 constantly tends to urge this jaw inwardly. Seated inthe recess and held in position therein by a cap 27 is an assemblycomprising a pair of spaced plates 28. Between these plates adjacent theupper end thereof is pivoted a trigger 29 having pivoted thereto aspring-pressed arm 30, the spring 31 of which constantly urges the armand accordingly the lower end of the trigger 29 outwardly. The inner endof this trigger has pivoted thereto a dog 32 accessible from the outerface of the section 10 by elevating a panel 33 pivoted to the cap 27 asat .34. This dog has an undercut notch 35 formed in the upper edgethereof which, when the trigger 29 is withdrawnwithin the confines ofthe section 10, may be hooked over a pin 36 carried by the plateassembly to hold the trigger in its retracted position.

For convenience in engaging this dog to withdraw the trigger against theaction of the spring 81, the dog has projecting from opposite sidesthereof studs 37 with which a hooked tool may be engaged. Slidablebetween the plates is an actuating bar .88 having at its lower face ahook 239, the purpose of which will presently appear. This bar is.frictionally held in position by a spring 39 and has in its uppersurface ratchet teeth 40 for coaction with the dog 87, so that when thetrigger 29 is forced inwardly, the bar 38 is advanced one stepoutwardly.

The section 10 is provided with a bore in which is mounted a shaft 41,this shaft hav ing its inner endextending into the cavity and betweenthe plates 28 where it has securedthereto a latch dog 42 adapted toengage a latching shoulder 43 formedon the plunger 25 to hold theplunger in retracted position with the jaw 18 in such position that itmay not engage with a tool joint J upon a pipe which is passing betweenthese sections. This dog has a tail 44 which is arranged inthe path ofmovement ofthe hook 89 of the bar 38.

It will be obvious that if the trigger 29 is forced inwardly apredetermined number of times, the bar 38 will be advanced sufficientlyto bringthe hook 39 into engagement with the tail 44, shifting the dog42 to release the plunger, so that the jaw 18 may be shifted thereby toa position where it will extend into the path of the joint J as itpasses between the sections. It. will also be'obvious that at this time,the shaft 41 will be oscillated.

The outer end of the shaft 41 has secured thereto an arm 45, to theouter end of which a connecting rod 46 is connected. The wing 47 of thesection 10 at the latching side of the elevator has a bore openingthrough the end face thereof, which is indicated at 48 and in this boreis arranged a ,trip bar 49 to which the end of the connecting rod 46 is7 connected. A spring 50 constantly urges the trip bar outwardly andnormally maintains the shaft 41 in such position that the dog 42 willengagewith the plunger. The jaw 18 of the section 11 has upon one wingthereof an outstanding lug 51 which, when the sections are in closedposition, is in the path of the trip bar 49 and is normally held therebyin a position such that it is held out of the path of the joints J ofthe pipe P passing through. the elevator.

lVhen, however, the dog 42 is operated by the hook 39 of the bar 88, theresilient oscillation of the shaft 41 causes the trip bar to bewithdrawn so that the jaw of the section 11 may move inwardly and bepositioned to engage the pipe joint J. The jaws 18 are pref erablv soconstructed that they may have applied thereto bushings '52 to adaptthese jaws for use with pipe of different sizes. These the pin 36. Thedog 42 is tripped to release the plunger so that the jaws 18 arenormally urged inwardly. The sections of the elevator are then clampedtogether about the upper end of the drill pipe'immediately be low thecollar secured thereto and which projecting above the upper'end of thewell. The hoisting apparatus is then brought into play to lift thestring until the desired extension thereof is obtained, when the wellstring is supported bythe usual slips (not herein shown) during theuncoupling operaation. When the pipe is uncoupled, the lower end thereofis moved to the storage position and sufficient slack is given the cablelines to enable the upper end of the pipe to assume its proper position.The cable may, after the pipe is properly positioned, be slacked away,allowing the elevator to pass downwardly over the pipe and the jaws 18will simply ratchet over the joints until the elevator reaches the lowerend thereof when a workman upon the floor of the derrick may release theelevator to enable it to be swung to the center of the derrick tore-engage the drill pipe.

In returning the sections, as has been herelnbefore pointed out, theelevator is first used menses to lift the sections of pipe support themwhile they are being engaged with the drill pipe or in the hole and thenas a means for supporting the assembled pipewhile it is lowered into thehole. During this operation, the trigger 29 is released and the jaws isforced inwardly as it passes each tool-v joint".

With the construction at present illustrated, asthe third tool joint ispassed, the

dog l2 is released, releasing the plunger and oscillating the shaft-41,so that both jaws 18 are positioned to engage the next tool joint andlift the pipe. It will be obvious that when the assembled pipe has beenlowered, the elevator is again at the floor level, so that it may behandled therefrom and after it hasbeen reset need-merely be swungtransversely of the derrick to engage a second pipe section.

\ Since the construction hereinbe'lore set forth is capable of a certainrange of change and modification without materially departing from thespirit ot the invention, 1 do not limit myself to such specificstructures ex cept as hereinafter claimed.

1. In an elevator for handling pipe sections having spaced projectingportions, a collar having means toengage beneath one of the projections,a member holding said means in inoperative position to thereby permitthe collar to be moved upwardly over the pipe and releasing apparatusfor said member carried by the collar and positioned to engage saidprojections, said releasing means being rendered operative by engagementtherewith oi" a predetermined number 4 of projections 2. In an elevatorfor handling pipe sections having spaced projecting portions, a collarto surround the pipeha-ving a jaw normally positioned to engage beneathone of said portions means for holding the jaw in said collar releasinsaid holding means.

3 In an elevator for handling pipe sections having spaced projectingportions, a collar to surround the pipe having a aw nor mally POSiUlOlleCl to engage beneath one of said portions, means for'holding theaw in retracted position to permit passage otthe' projectingportions-ofthe pipe section, a pipe engaging trigger pivoted to saidcollar and shifted by each of said portions as it passes, and meansactuated by said trigger after a predetermined number of operationsthereof" releasing said holding means.-

In an elevator for handling pipe sections. haying spaced pro ecting'portlons, a-

collar to surround the pipe having a aw normally posit oned to engagebeneath one of said portions, means for holding the aw in retractedposition to permit passage o f the projecting portions of the pipesection,- a pipe engaging trigger pivoted to said collar and shifted byeach of said portions as'it passes, and a member advanced one step bythe trigger each time that the trigger is shitted,-said member coacti-ngwith said holding means to release the same after the; member has beenadvanced a predetermined number of steps.

5. In an elevator forhandlin g pipe sections having spaced projectingportions, a collar to surround the pipe having apair of opposed jawsnormally positioned to engage beneath one of said portions when thecollar is moved upwardly over the pipe, a latch holding one of said jawsin retracted position, means operati-vely connected with the latch andholding the other of the aws in retracted position when the latch isinlatchposition, and means actuated by the passage of a predeterminednumber of said portions through said collar for releasing said holdingmeans. I

6, In an elevator for'han-d ling pipe sections having spaced projectingportions, a

collar to surround the pipe having a pair of opposed jaws normallypositioned to engage beneatlione of said portions when the collar ismoved upwardly over the pipe, a latch holding one of said jaws inretract-ed posi tion, means operatively connected with the latch andholding the other of the jaws in retracted position when the latch is inlatching position, and means actuated by the pas-;

sage of a predetermined number of said portionstl'irough sai'd collarfor releasing said holding means-,said jaws retracting during movementof said portions through the col lar in the opposite direction to permitpassage of the portions; 1 i

'Z. In an elevator for handling pipe-sections having spaced projectingportions, a collar to surroundthe pipe having a pair of opposed jawsnormally positioned to engage beneath one of said portions when thecollar is moved upwardly over the pipe, a latch holding one of saidjawsin retractedposition, means operatively connected with the latch andholding the other of the jaws in retracted position when the latch is inlatching position, a pipe engaging trigger pivoted to said collar andshifted by each of'said portionsas it passes, and means actuated by saidtrigger after a predetermined number of operations there of rel ea si ngsaid holding means.

8'; In an elevator for handling pipe sections ha ving spaced projectingportions, a,

collar to surround the pipe having a pair of opposed jaws normallypositioned to engage beneath one of said portions when the collar ismoved upwardly over the pipe, a latch holdmg one of said jaws inretracted position, means operatively connected with the latch andholding the other of the jaws in retracted position when the latch is inlatching position, a pipe engaging trigger pivoted to said collarandshifted by each of said portions as it passes, and a member advanced onestep by the trigger each time that the trigger is shifted, said membercoacting With said holding means to release the same after the memberhasbeen advanced a predetermined number of steps.

9. In an elevator for handling pipe sections.

having spaced projecting portions, a collar to surround the pipe, a jawpivotedthereto and movable toa position where it will engage beneath aprojecting portion to sup- I port the pipe within the collar, a springpressed plunger connected to the jaw and urging the jaw to saidposition, a latch carried by the collar and engaging theplunger to holdthe jaw in retracted position, and means carried by the collar andpositioned for engagement by said projecting portions during theirpassage therethrough operating after engage ment therewith of apredetermined number of said projections to release the latch.

10. In an elevator for handling pipe sections having spaced projectingportions, a collar to surround the pipe, a aw pivoted thereto andmovable to a position where it Will engage beneath a projecting portionto support the pipe within the collar, a springpressed plunger connectedto the jaw and urging the jaw to said position, a latch carried by thecollar and engaging the plunger to hold the jaw in retracted position,the latch having a tail, a longitudinally shiftable bar having a memberto engage the tail .when

the bar has been advanced to a predetermined extent and release thelatch, the member carried by the collar and positioned to be engaged bysaid projections during their passage through the collar, said member ateach engagement therewith of a projection advancing said bar. v

11. In an elevator for handling pipe sections having spaced projectingportions, a collar to surround the pipe, a jaw pivoted thereto andmovable to avposition where it will engage beneath a projecting portionto sup port the pipe within the collar, a springpressed plungerconnected to the jaw and urging the jaw to said position, a latchcarried by the collar and engaging the plunger to hold the jaw inretracted position, means carried by the collar and positioned forengagement by said projecting portions during their passagetherethrou'gh operating after engagement therewith of a predeterminednumber of said projections to release the latch, a second jaw 7 carriedby the collar and opposed tothe first 12. In an elevator for handlingpipe sections having spaced projecting portions, a collar to surroundthe pipe, a jaw pivoted thereto and movable toa position where 1t Wlllengage beneath a pro ecting portion to support the pipe withln thecollar, a spring-presse plunger connected to the jaw and urging the jawto said position, a latch carried by the collar and engaging the plungerto hold the jaw in retracted position, means carried by the collar andpositioned for engagement by said projecting portions during theirpassage therethrough operating after engagement therewith of apredetermined number of said projections to release the latch, a secondjaw carried by the collar and opposed to the first named jaw and adaptedto normally assume a position where it will engage beneath saidprojections, a spring-pressed element retaining the last named jaw inretracted position, and a connection between the spring-pressed elementand the latch whereby said element is withdrawn simultaneously with thelatch. V V

13. In an elevator for handling pipe sections having spaced projectingportions, a collar formed in hinged sections and having means whereby itmay be secured in closed position about the pipe, said collar being passable over the pipe section and its projecting portions from end to endof the pipe after assembly thereabout, jaws carried by said collar toengage and support pipe, means ,urging said jaws into engagement withthe pipe, means retaining the jaws in retracted position to therebypermit the collar to be moved from one end to the other of the pipe, andmeans automatically releasing said retaining means when the collar hasreached a-predetermined position upon the pipe.

14. In an elevator for handling pipe sections having spaced projectingportions, a collar formed in hinged sections and having means whereby itmay be secured in closed position about the pipe, said collar beingpassable over the pipe section and its projecting portions from end toend of the pipe after assembly thereabout, jaws carried by said collarto engage and support pipe, means urging said aws into engagement withthe pipe, means retaining the jaws in retracted position to therebypermit the collar to be moved from one end to the other of the pipe,

tions having spaced projecting portions, a collar formed in hingedsections and having means whereby it may be secured in closed positionabout the pipe, said collar being passable over the pipe section and itsproject ing portions from end to end of the pipe after assemblythereabont, jaws carried by said collar to engage one or" saidprojections and thereby support the pipe section, means urging said jawsinwardly to engaging position, means retaining the jaws in retractedposition to thereby permit the collar to be moved from one end to theother of the pipe over said projections, and means automaticallyreleasing the retaining means When the collar has passed a predeterminednumber of said projections in its travel along the pipe.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

COLUMBUS MONROE GIDLEY.

